System And Method For Mounting A Robotic Arm In A Surgical Robotic System

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for mounting a robotic arm for use in robotic-assisted surgery, including a mobile shuttle that includes a support member for mounting the robotic arm that extends at least partially over a gantry of an imaging device. Further embodiments include a mounting apparatus for mounting a robotic arm to a base or support column of an imaging device, to a patient table, to a floor or ceiling of a room, or to a cart that extends over the top surface of the patient table.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/706,210, filed on Sep. 15, 2017, which claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/395,443, filed on Sep. 16, 2016,U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/426,491, filed on Nov. 26, 2016, andU.S. Provisional Application No. 62/491,645, filed Apr. 28, 2017, theentire contents of all of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Robotically-assisted surgical procedures have attracted increasedinterest in recent years. Robot assisted surgery, includingrobotically-assisted minimally-invasive surgical procedures, can befaster, safer and require less recovery time than conventional opensurgeries. Surgical robotic systems are typically large devices thatapproach the patient from the side and may take up a relatively largeamount of space in the surgical area. There is a continuing need forimprovement to the usability and effectiveness of surgical roboticsystems.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments include systems and methods for mounting a roboticarm for use in robotic-assisted surgery.

Embodiments include a mobile shuttle for mounting at least one roboticarm proximate to an imaging device that includes a mobile baseconfigured to move the shuttle to a position adjacent to the imagingdevice, and a support member for mounting at least one robotic arm, thesupport member supported by the mobile base and extending at leastpartially over a gantry of the imaging device when the shuttle is movedto the position adjacent to the imaging device.

Further embodiments include a mounting apparatus for a robotic arm thatincludes a base portion that is supported on a base of an imagingsystem, and a support member that extends from the base portion over atop surface of a patient table, the support member including a mountingsurface for a robotic arm.

Further embodiments include a mobile mounting apparatus for a roboticarm that includes a base portion, a pair of support arms extendingupwards from the base, and a support member for mounting at least onerobotic arm, the support member extending between the support arms,where an open region is defined between the base portion, the pair ofsupport arms and the support member and the open region is sized andshaped to accommodate a surgical table within the open region.

Further embodiments include a mounting apparatus for a robotic arm thatincludes a base portion, a support member that is supported by the baseportion and includes a mounting surface for a robotic arm, and ananchoring apparatus that is selectively deployable from the baseportion, the anchoring apparatus including at least one plate-shapedelement coupled to the base portion and lying flat against the floorwhen deployed such that a weight may be provided on the top surface ofthe at least one plate-shaped element to improve the stability of themounting apparatus.

Further embodiments include a mounting apparatus for a robotic arm thatincludes a mobile base, a support member that is supported by the baseand includes a mounting surface for a robotic arm, and a docking systemhaving a first docking element on the base that selectively engages witha second docking element that is pre-installed on a floor to maintainthe mobile base and support member at a fixed location on the floor.

Further embodiments include a mounting apparatus for mounting a roboticarm to a surgical table that includes a plate member that extends acrossthe width of a tabletop of the surgical table, a clamping mechanism thatclamps the plate member to the surgical table, and a mounting surfacecoupled to and raised from the plate member that is configured tosupport a base end of a surgical robotic arm.

Further embodiments include a mounting apparatus for mounting a roboticarm to a surgical table that is supported above a floor by a column, themounting apparatus including a support element that is fixed to thecolumn beneath the surgical table, and a support arm that extends upfrom the support element above the surface of the surgical table, thesupport arm including a mounting surface for a surgical robotic arm.

Further embodiments include a ceiling mount for a surgical robotic armthat includes a support member that extends vertically downward from theceiling, the support member having a mounting surface for a surgicalrobotic arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description of the invention, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate a robotically-assisted surgical system includinga mobile shuttle according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile shuttle for mounting at least one roboticarm according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top portion of a gantry of an imaging system and asupport member for mounting a robotic arm and an optical sensor devicefor a motion tracking system.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate an alternative embodiment of a mobile shuttle fora robotically-assisted surgical system.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a mounting apparatus for arobotically-assisted surgical system mounted on an imaging system.

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate a further embodiment of a mobile mountingapparatus for a robotic arm used for robotically assisted surgery.

FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of a mounting apparatus for arobotic arm having a selectively deployable anchoring apparatus.

FIG. 8 illustrates a mounting apparatus for a robotic arm that includesa mobile cart and a docking system for docking the cart to apre-installed feature in the floor.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a mobile mounting apparatus fora robotic arm that includes a docking system for docking withpre-installed features in the floor.

FIG. 10 illustrates yet another embodiment of a mobile mountingapparatus for a robotic arm that includes a docking system for dockingwith pre-installed features in the floor.

FIGS. 11A-11E illustrate a first embodiment table mount for a roboticarm used for robotically assisted surgery.

FIG. 12A-12E illustrate a second embodiment table mount for a roboticarm used for robotically assisted surgery.

FIG. 13 illustrates a mounting apparatus for mounting a robotic arm to asupport column of a surgical table.

FIG. 14 illustrates a ceiling mount for a robotic arm used forrobotically assisted surgery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments will be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numberswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.References made to particular examples and implementations are forillustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention or the claims.

FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate a system 300 for performing robotically-assistedimage-guided surgery according to various embodiments. FIG. 1A is afront perspective view of the system 300 and FIG. 1B is a rearperspective view of the system 300. FIG. 1C is a top view of the system300 and FIG. 1D is a front elevation view of the system 300. The system300 in this embodiment includes a robotic arm 301, an imaging device 303and a motion tracking system 305. The robotic arm 301 may comprise amulti-joint arm that includes a plurality of linkages connected byjoints having actuator(s) and optional encoder(s) to enable the linkagesto bend, rotate and/or translate relative to one another in response tocontrol signals from a robot control system. The robotic arm 301 may befixed to a support member 350 at one end and may have an end effector302 at the other end of the robotic arm 301. The end effector 302 may bemost clearly seen in FIGS. 1B and 3. Although a single robotic arm 301is shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, it will be understood that the system 300 mayinclude multiple robotic arms attached to suitable support structure(s).

The robotic arm 301 may aid in the performance of a surgical procedure,such as a minimally-invasive spinal surgical procedure or various othertypes of orthopedic, neurological, cardiothoracic and general surgicalprocedures. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1B, the robotic arm 301 may beused to assist a surgeon performing a surgical procedure in a cervicalspinal region of a patient. The robotic arm 301 may also be used forthoracic and/or lumbar spinal procedures. The procedures may beperformed posteriorly, anteriorly or laterally.

In embodiments, the robotic arm 301 may be controlled to move the endeffector 302 to one or more pre-determined positions and/or orientationswith respect to a patient 200. In some embodiments, the end effector 302may be or may have attached to it an invasive surgical tool, such as aneedle, a cannula, a dilator, a cutting or gripping instrument, a drill,a screw, an electrode, an endoscope, an implant, a radiation source, adrug, etc., that may be inserted into the body of the patient. In otherembodiments, the end effector 302 may be a hollow tube or cannula thatmay receive an invasive surgical tool 100 (see FIG. 1B), includingwithout limitation a needle, a cannula, a tool for gripping or cutting,an electrode, an implant, a radiation source, a drug and an endoscope.The invasive surgical tool 100 may be inserted into the patient's bodythrough the hollow tube or cannula by a surgeon. The robotic arm 301 maybe controlled to maintain the position and orientation of the endeffector 302 with respect to the patient 200 to ensure that the surgicaltool(s) 100 follow a desired trajectory through the patient's body toreach a target area. The target area may be previously-determined duringa surgical planning process based on patient images, which may beobtained using the imaging device 303.

The imaging device 303 may be used to obtain diagnostic images of apatient 200, which may be a human or animal patient. In embodiments, theimaging device 303 may be an x-ray computed tomography (CT) imagingdevice. The patient 200 may be positioned within a central bore 307 ofthe imaging device 303 and an x-ray source and detector may be rotatedaround the bore 307 to obtain x-ray image data (e.g., raw x-rayprojection data) of the patient 200. The collected image data may beprocessed using a suitable processor (e.g., computer) to perform athree-dimensional reconstruction of the object. In other embodiments,the imaging device 303 may comprise one or more of an x-ray fluoroscopicimaging device, a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging device, a positronemission tomography (PET) imaging device, a single-photon emissioncomputed tomography (SPECT), or an ultrasound imaging device. Inembodiments, image data may be obtained pre-operatively (i.e., prior toperforming a surgical procedure) or intra-operatively (i.e., during asurgical procedure) by positioning the patient 200 within the bore 307of the imaging device 303. In the system 300 of FIGS. 1A-1D, this may beaccomplished by moving the imaging device 303 over the patient 200 toperform a scan while the patient 200 may remain stationary. The imagingdevice 303 may also be used to validate a surgical intervention, such asby determining that an invasive tool, instrument and/or implant has beenplaced in the proper location in the patient's body.

Examples of x-ray CT imaging devices that may be used according tovarious embodiments are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No.8,118,488, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0139215, U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0003572, U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0265182 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2014/0275953, the entire contents of all of which are incorporatedherein by reference. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the patientsupport 60 (e.g., surgical table) upon which the patient 200 may belocated is secured to the imaging device 303, such as via a column 50which is mounted to a base 20 of the imaging device 303. In theembodiment of FIGS. 1A-1D, the patient 200 is supported on a patienttable 60 that is rotated away from the bore 307 of the imaging device303. During an imaging scan, the patient support 60 may be rotatedin-line with the bore 307 such that the patient axis is aligned with theimaging axis of the imaging device 303. A portion of the imaging device303 (e.g., an O-shaped imaging gantry 40) which includes at least oneimaging component may translate along the length of the base 20 on rails23 to perform an imaging scan of the patient 200, and may translate awayfrom the patient 200 to an out-of-the-way positon for performing asurgical procedure on the patient 200.

An example imaging device 303 that may be used in various embodiments isthe AIRO® intra-operative CT system manufactured by Mobius Imaging, LLCand distributed by Brainlab, AG. Other imaging devices may also beutilized. For example, the imaging device 303 may be a mobile CT devicethat is not attached to the patient support 60 and may be wheeled orotherwise moved over the patient 200 and the support 60 to perform ascan. Examples of mobile CT devices include the BodyTom® CT scanner fromSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and the O-arm® surgical imaging systemform Medtronic, plc. The imaging device 303 may also be a C-arm x-rayfluoroscopy device. In other embodiments, the imaging device 303 may bea fixed-bore imaging device, and the patient 200 may be moved into thebore of the device, either on a surgical support 60 as shown in FIGS.1A-1D, or on a separate patient table that is configured to slide in andout of the bore.

The motion tracking system 305 in this embodiment includes a pluralityof marker devices 119, 202 and 315 and a stereoscopic optical sensordevice 311 that includes two or more cameras (e.g., IR cameras). Theoptical sensor device 311 may include one or more radiation sources(e.g., diode ring(s)) that direct radiation (e.g., IR radiation) intothe surgical field, where the radiation may be reflected by the markerdevices 119, 202 and 315 and received by the cameras. A computer 313 maybe coupled to the sensor device 311 as schematically illustrated in FIG.1D and may determine the positions and orientations of the markerdevices 119, 202, 315 detected by the cameras using, for example,triangulation techniques. A 3D model of the surgical space may begenerated and continually updated using motion tracking softwareimplemented by the computer 313. In embodiments, the computer 313 mayalso receive image data from the imaging device 303 and may register theimage data to a common coordinate system with the motion tracking system305 using image registration techniques as are known in the art. Inembodiments, a reference marker device 315 (e.g., reference arc) may berigidly attached to a landmark in the anatomical region of interest(e.g., clamped or otherwise attached to the spinous process of apatient's vertebrae) to enable the anatomical region of interest to becontinually tracked by the motion tracking system 305. Another markerdevice 202 may be rigidly attached to the robotic arm 301, such as onthe end effector 302 of the robotic arm 301, to enable the position ofrobotic arm 301 and end effector 302 to be tracked using the motiontracking system 305. The computer 313 may include software configured toperform a transform between the joint coordinates of the robotic arm 301and the common coordinate system of the motion tracking system 305,which may enable the position and orientation of the end effector 302 ofthe robotic arm 301 to be controlled with respect to the patient 200.

In addition to passive marker devices described above, the motiontracking system 305 may alternately utilize active marker devices thatmay include radiation emitters (e.g., LEDs) that may emit radiation thatis detected by an optical sensor device 311. Each active marker deviceor sets of active marker devices attached to a particular object mayemit radiation in a pre-determined strobe pattern (e.g., with modulatedpulse width, pulse rate, time slot and/or amplitude) and/or wavelengthwhich may enable different objects to be uniquely identified and trackedby the motion tracking system 305. One or more active marker devices maybe fixed relative to the patient, such as on a reference marker deviceas described above or secured to the patient's skin via an adhesivemembrane or mask. Additional active marker devices may be fixed tosurgical tools 100 and/or to the end effector 302 of the robotic arm 301to allow these objects to be tracked relative to the patient.

In further embodiments, the marker devices may be passive maker devicesthat include moiré patterns that may enable their position andorientation to be tracked in three-dimensional space using a singlecamera using Moiré Phase Tracking (MPT) technology. Other trackingtechnologies, such as computer vision systems and/or magnetic-basedtracking systems, may also be utilized.

The system 300 may also include a display device 319 as schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 1D. The display device 319 may display image data ofthe patient's anatomy obtained by the imaging device 303. The displaydevice 319 may facilitate planning for a surgical procedure, such as byenabling a surgeon to define one or more target positions in thepatient's body and/or a path or trajectory into the patient's body forinserting surgical tool(s) to reach a target position while minimizingdamage to other tissue or organs of the patient. The position and/ororientation of one or more objects tracked by the motion tracking system305 may be shown on the display 319, and may be shown superimposed withthe image data. For example, the position and/or orientation of animplantable surgical tool 100 with respect to the patient's anatomy maybe graphically depicted on the display 319 based on the trackedposition/orientation of the marker device 119 fixed to the tool 100 andthe known geometry of the tool 100, which may be pre-registered with themotion tracking system 305. The display 319 may also include graphicaldepictions of other objects, such as implants (e.g., pedicle screws).

In various embodiments, the imaging device 303 may be located close tothe surgical area of the patient 200 which may enable pre-operative,intra-operative and post-operative imaging of the patient 200,preferably without needing to remove the patient from the operatingtheater or transitioning the patient from the surgical table 60. Inembodiments, the imaging device 303 may be located less than about 5meters, such as less than about 2 meters (e.g., less than about 1 meter)from the surgical area of the patient 200 during a surgical procedure.As shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A-1D, the imaging device 303 (e.g.,X-ray CT scanner) may include an imaging gantry 40 that may be moved(i.e., translated) over the surgical area of patient 200 to perform animaging scan and may be moved (i.e., translated) away from the surgicalarea of the patient 200 so as not to interfere with a surgeon performinga surgical procedure. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the imaginggantry 40 may be supported by a gimbal support 30, which may include apair of arms 31, 33 extending upwards from the base 20 which may eachattach to opposite sides of the gantry 40. The gimbal 30 and the gantry40 may translate together along the length of the base 20 to perform animaging scan. In some embodiments, the gantry 40 may be attached to thearms 31, 33 of the gimbal 30 by rotary bearings which may enable thegantry 40 to tilt with respect to the gimbal 30 and the base 20 toobtain patient images at an oblique angle.

In various embodiments, the robotic arm 301 may be attached to a supportstructure that is also located close to the surgical area of the patient200. For example, the base end 304 of the robotic arm 301 (i.e., the endof the arm 301 opposite the end effector 302) may be fixed to a supportstructure at a position that is less than about 2 meters, such as lessthan about 1 meter (e.g., between 0.5 and 1 meter) from the surgicalarea of the patient 200 during a surgical procedure.

In a conventional robotically-assisted surgical system, a robotic armmay be mounted to a mobile cart that may be moved proximate to thesurgical area of the patient 200, typically approaching the surgicaltable 60 from a side of the table 60. The cart may remain fixed in placeadjacent to the surgical table 60 while a robotic arm may extend fromthe cart into the surgical area during a surgical procedure.Alternately, the mobile cart may be used primarily for transport of therobotic arm to and from a position proximate to the surgical area.During surgery, the robotic arm may be attached to another supportstructure, such as a surgical side rail of the patient table 60, and thecart may be moved out of the way. In either case, the robotic arm and/orcart may occupy a relatively large amount of space in the surgical area.For example, the robotic arm may take up space that would otherwise byoccupied by a surgeon or other clinician during the surgical procedure,which may impede workflow. In addition, the robotic arm and/or cart willoften be positioned so as to impede imaging of the patient by an imagingdevice 303. For example, a robotic arm and/or cart positioned along aside of the patient table 60 may not fit within the bore 307 of thegantry 40 of the imaging device 303, and may need to be removed prior toimaging of the patient 200.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1D, the robotic arm 303 may be mounted toa mobile shuttle 330 having a support member 350 for a robotic arm 301that may extend at least partially over an outer surface (e.g.,circumference) of the gantry 40 of the imaging system 303 when theshuttle 330 is moved adjacent to the imaging system 303. In theembodiment of FIG. 1, the support member 350 comprises a curved railthat extends around the outer circumference of the gantry 40. Thesupport member 350 may extend around at least about 25%, such as betweenabout 30-50% of the outer circumference of the gantry 40. The supportmember 350 may extend around at least a portion of the outercircumference of the gantry 40 that is located above the surgical areaof the patient 200. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the support member 350forms a semicircular arc that extends between a first end 351, which islocated proximate to the end of a first arm 31 of the gimbal 30, and asecond end 353, which is located proximate to the end of a second arm 33of the gimbal 30 when the shuttle 330 is positioned adjacent to theimaging system 303. The semicircular arc support member 350 may beconcentric with the outer circumference of the gantry 40. Inembodiments, the support member 350 may extend along a semicircular archaving a radius that is greater than about 33 inches, such as greaterthan about 35 inches (e.g., between 33 and 50 inches). The supportmember 350 may be spaced from the outer surface of the gantry 40 by apre-determined distance, which may be from less than an inch (e.g., 0.5inches) to 6 or 10 inches or more. In some embodiments, the supportmember 350 may be spaced from the gantry 40 by an amount sufficient toenable the tilt motion of the gantry 40 with respect to the gimbal 30over at least a limited range of motion.

In addition to a curved support member 350, in some embodiments thesupport member 350 may comprise one or more straight segments (e.g.,rail segments), where at least a portion of the support member 350 mayextend over the top surface of the gantry 40.

A carriage 360 may be located on the support member 350 and may includea mounting surface 361 for mounting the base end 304 of the robotic arm301 to the carriage 360. As shown in FIG. 1A-1D, the carriage 360 mayextend from the support member 350 towards a first (e.g., front) face ofthe gantry 40. The mounting surface 361 for the robotic arm 301 mayextend beyond the first (e.g., front) face of the gantry 40 and therobotic arm 301 may extend over the first (e.g., front) face of thegantry 40. In some embodiments, the configuration of the carriage 360and mounting surface 361 may be reversed such that the mounting surface361 extends beyond the second (e.g., rear) face of the gantry 40, andthe robotic arm 301 may extend over the second (e.g., rear) face of thegantry 40. In this configuration, the patient support 60 may beconfigured such that the patient support 60 and patient 200 extend intoor through the bore 307 of the gantry 40, and a portion of the patient200 requiring surgical intervention (e.g., the cranium) may be accessedfrom the second (e.g., rear) side of the gantry 40.

In some embodiments, the carriage 360 and the robotic arm 301 attachedthereto may be moved to different positions along the length of supportmember 350 (e.g., any arbitrary position between the first end 351 andthe second end 353 of the support member 360). The carriage 360 and therobotic arm 301 may be fixed in place at a particular desired positionalong the length of the support member 350. In some embodiments, thecarriage 360 may be moved manually (e.g., positioned by an operator at aparticular location along the length of the support member 350 and thenclamped or otherwise fastened in place). Alternately, the carriage 360may be driven to different positions using a suitable drive mechanism(e.g., a motorized belt drive, friction wheel, gear tooth assembly,cable-pulley system, etc., not shown in FIGS. 1A-1D). The drivemechanism may be located on the carriage 360 and/or the support member350, for example. An encoder mechanism may be utilized to indicate theposition of the carriage 360 and the base end 304 of the robotic arm 301on the support member 350. Although the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1Dillustrate one robotic arm 301 mounted to the support member 350, itwill be understood that more than one robotic arm may be mounted to thesupport member 350 via respective carriages 360.

Further, in some embodiments, the robotic arm 301 may be mounteddirectly to the support member 350, such as on a mounting surface 361that is integrally formed on the support member 350. In such anembodiment, the position of robotic arm 301 may not be movable along thelength of the support member 350.

In some embodiments, there may be sufficient clearance between thesupport member 350 and/or carriage 360 and the outer circumference ofthe gantry 40 to enable the shuttle 330 with the robotic arm 301attached to approach the imaging system 303 from the second (e.g., rear)side of the imaging system 303 such that the robotic arm 101 may passover the outer circumference of the gantry 40 and then extend over thefront side of the gantry 40 in a configuration such as shown in FIGS.1A-1D. In embodiments, the robotic arm 301 may be in a first pose inorder to reduce its profile in the radial direction as it passes overthe gantry 40 and may then be extended in a direction towards thepatient 200 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D. Alternately or in addition, thecarriage 360 may be hinged to enable the mounting surface 361 to bepivoted upwards to provide additional clearance for the robotic arm 301to pass over the gantry 40 when the mobile shuttle 330 is positionedadjacent to the imaging system 303 and may then be pivoted downward tothe configuration shown in FIGS. 1A-1D. In some embodiments, the heightof the support member 350 may be temporarily raised, such as via a jackmechanism on the mobile shuttle 330, to allow the robotic arm 301 topass over the gantry 40, and may then be lowered to the configurationshown in FIGS. 1A-1D. In further embodiments, the support member 350 maybe moved over the gantry 40 without the robotic arm 301 or the carriage360 mounted to the support member 350, and the robotic arm 301 or thecarriage 360 may be mounted to the support member 350 after the mobileshuttle 330 is moved into position adjacent to the imaging system 303.In some embodiments, the robotic arm 303 may be mounted to the carriage360 via an adaptor, which may be a quick-connect/disconnect adaptor.

In some embodiments, the robotic arm 301 may be mounted to a mountingsurface 361 that is located on a top surface of the carriage 360 toenable the robotic arm 301 to pass over the gantry 40, such as shown inthe embodiment of FIGS. 4A-4D, described below.

The mobile shuttle 330 further includes a base 401 having a plurality ofwheels 403 attached to the base 401 that enable the mobile shuttle 330to be moved over a surface (e.g., a floor). In the embodiment of FIGS.1A-1D, the base 401 includes two sets of wheels 403, including a firstset of wheels 403 a located proximate to a first end 402 the mobileshuttle 330 and a second set of wheels 403 b located proximate to asecond end 404 of the mobile shuttle 330. The wheels 403 may bepositioned and distributed to provide balance and stability to themobile shuttle 330 and may enable the shuttle to be moved, with orwithout one or more robotic arms 301 attached, without tipping over. Inthe embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1D, each of the wheels 403 of the mobileshuttle are located in a caster assembly, which may be a swivel-typecaster assembly to provide increased maneuverability of the shuttle 330.However, it will be understood that other configurations for the wheels403 may be utilized. In some embodiments, at least a portion of thewheels 403 may be geared into a drive mechanism for propelling themobile shuttle 330 over a surface.

The base 401 of the mobile shuttle 330 may include two parallel rails405, 407, where each of the wheels 403 may be mounted to a rail 405,407. The rails 405, 407 may be separated from each other by a distancethat is greater than a width of the base 20 of the imaging system 303.In one embodiment, the rails 405, 407 are separated by at least about 22inches. When the mobile shuttle 330 is moved adjacent to the imagingsystem 303 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the rails 405, 407 may extend atleast partially along opposing sides of the base 20 of the imagingsystem 303. The rails 405, 407 may have a top surface that is less thana foot from the floor, and preferably less than about 8 inches from thefloor. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the height of the rails 405, 407 mayenable the rails 405, 407 to move under and fit beneath a portion of theimaging system 303, such as the arms 31, 33 of the gimbal 30 of theimaging system 303.

A connecting member 409 which may extend generally transverse to therails 405, 407 may connect the rails 405, 407 to each other. Theconnecting member 409 may be located closer to the second end 404 of theshuttle 330 than to the first end 402, as shown in FIG. 1B. Inembodiments, the connecting member 409 may extend upwards from each ofthe rails 405, 407 to form a bridge portion 411, as shown in FIG. 1B.The bridge portion 411 may have sufficient clearance to extend over thebase 20 of the imaging system 303, as shown in FIG. 1B. In embodiments,the bridge portion 411 may have a clearance height of at least about 7inches (e.g., 8-12 inches). The height of the bridge portion 411 may besuch that it does not interfere with the tilt motion of the gantry 40.

At least one arm 413, 415 may extend upwards from the base 401 of themobile shuttle 330. As shown in FIG. 1B, a pair of arms 413, 415 mayextend from respective rails 405, 407 of the base 401. In otherembodiments, at least one arm 413, 415 may extend from the connectingmember 409. Each of the arms 413, 415 may have a shape thatsubstantially corresponds to the shape of the respective arms 31, 33 ofthe gimbal 30 which supports the gantry 40 of the imaging system 303.When the mobile shuttle 330 is moved adjacent to the imaging system 303as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the arms 413, 415 may extend adjacent to thearms 31, 33 of the gimbal 30. The arms 413, 415 may have a curvedprofile over at least a portion of their length, where the shape of thecurve may substantially correspond to the shape of the outercircumference of the O-shaped gantry 40. The arms 413, 415 may belocated radially-outwards from the outer circumference of the gantry 40,which may enable the gantry 40 to tilt on the gimbal 30. In someembodiments, a width of the mobile shuttle 330 defined between the outersurfaces of the arms 413, 415 may be less than a width of the imagingsystem 303, which may be defined by external surfaces of the arms 31, 33of the gimbal 30. Thus, when the mobile shuttle 330 is positionedadjacent to the imaging system 303, the arms 413, 415 of the mobileshuttle 330 may be completely hidden behind the gimbal 30 when thesystem 300 is viewed head-on, as illustrated in FIG. 1D.

In some embodiments, a reinforcing member 417 may extend between thearms 413, 415 and may also be connected to the bridge portion 411, asshown in FIG. 1B. The reinforcing member 417 may have a curved shapethat may conform to the shape of the outer circumference of the O-shapedgantry 40. The reinforcing member 417 may be offset from the rear faceof the gantry 40 as shown in FIG. 4B. The reinforcing member 417 mayextend radially-outwards from the outer circumference of the gantry 40to enable the gantry 40 to tilt on the gimbal 30. The arms 413, 413, theconnecting member 409 and optional reinforcing member 417 preferably donot interfere with any cables or fluid lines extending through the bore307 of the gantry 40 (e.g., as may be required by an anesthesiologist)and may have a relatively small profile in the lateral direction (i.e.,parallel to the imaging axis of the gantry 40, or in the z-axisdirection), such as less than about 10 inches in lateral width (e.g.,less than 8 inches in lateral width, including less than about 6 inchesin lateral width). This may enable a patient 200 extending into orthrough the bore 307 of the gantry 40 to be easily accessed from therear side of the gantry 40 without interference from the mobile shuttle330.

The at least one arm 413, 415 extending from the base 401 of the mobileshuttle 330 may be off-set from the support member 350 upon which the atleast one robotic arm 301 is mounted. As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, forexample, the arms 413, 415 may be located adjacent to a face (e.g., rearface) of the gantry 40 and gimbal 30 and the support member 330 mayextend above the arms 31, 33 of the gimbal 30 and over the outercircumference of the gantry 40. A lateral connector portion 419 mayextend in a lateral direction (i.e., parallel to the imaging axis of thegantry 40, or in the z-axis direction) between each of the arms 413, 415and the respective first and second ends 351, 353 of the support member350. The lateral connector portion 419 may be a separate structure thatis secured (e.g., bolted or welded) between the end of an arm 413, 415and the respective end 351, 353 of the support member 350, as shown inFIGS. 1A-1D. Alternately, the support member 350 and arm(s) 413, 415 maybe formed as a unitary structure having a bent or curved segment formingthe lateral connector portion 419. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the lateralconnector portions 419 may have a curved profile that corresponds withan outer surface of the arms 31, 33 of the gimbal 30. Thus, when themobile shuttle 330 is positioned adjacent to the imaging device 303, theends of each of the arms 31, 33 of the gimbal 30 may be nested beneaththe connector portions 419.

FIGS. 1A-1D schematically illustrate a support arm 421 for an opticalsensor device 311 (e.g., multi-camera array) of a motion tracking system305 mounted to the mobile shuttle 330. The support arm 421 may bemounted to the support member 350. In some embodiments, the support arm421 may be a telescoping arm in order to adjust the length of thesupport arm 421. Alternately, the support arm 421 may have a fixedlength. The support arm 421 may also rotate or pivot on a first joint423 to adjust the rotational position of the optical sensor device 111.The support arm 421 may also include a second joint 425 (e.g., a balljoint) at the distal end of the arm 421 to adjust the orientation of theoptical sensor device 111. The support arm 421 may include a handle 427at the distal end of the arm 421 to enable a user to adjust the pose ofthe optical sensor device 111. The support arm 421 may include featuresthat hold the optical sensor device 111 in a desired pose during asurgical procedure.

There are a variety of ways in which a support arm 421 for an opticalsensor device 311 may be mounted to a mobile shuttle 330. Inembodiments, the support arm 421 may be clamped or otherwise fastenedonto the support member 350. The support arm 421 may be moved to variouspositions along the length of the support member 350 and fastened inplace at a desired position. In some embodiments, the support arm 421may be permanently mounted to a particular position on the supportmember 350. Alternately, the support arm 421 may be removably mounted(e.g., clamped onto) or non-removably mounted (e.g., bolted or welded)to the carriage 360 upon which the robotic arm 301 is mounted. In someembodiments, the support arm 421 may be mounted to a separate carriagethat may be movable along the length of the support member 350independent of the movement of the carriage 360 for the robotic arm 301.FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a support member 350 for a mobileshuttle 330 that include a pair of curved support rails 423, 425 thatextend parallel to one another over an outer surface (e.g.,circumference) of the gantry 40 of an imaging system 303. In thisembodiment, the robotic arm 301 is mounted to a first moveable carriage360 on a first support rail 433 and the support arm 421 for the opticalsensor device 311 is mounted to a second moveable carriage 430 on thesecond support rail 435. The two carriages 360 and 427 may be movedindependently of one another, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The support arm421 may also be slidable within an opening 428 in the second carriage427 to adjust the displacement of the optical sensor device 311. In someembodiments, a support member 350 having a pair of support rails 433,435 for first and second carriages 360, 430 may be directly mounted tothe imaging device 303 (e.g., mounted to one or both arms 31, 33 of thegimbal 30) rather than to a separate mobile shuttle 330. In someembodiments, the robotic arm 301 may be mounted to a mobile shuttle 330and the support arm 421 for the optical sensor device 311 may bedirectly mounted to the imaging device 303.

In various embodiments, a mobile shuttle 330 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D maybe transported via the wheels 403 to a position adjacent to the imagingdevice 303 such that the support member 350 for the at least one roboticarm 301 extends at least partially over the outer surface of the gantry40. The arms 413, 415 and/or the connector portions 419 may be used byan operator to steer and maneuver the mobile shuttle 330 duringtransport. In some embodiments, the mobile shuttle 330 may be fixed inplace when it is moved to a desired position. For example, the wheels403 may be locked or may be retracted relative to the base 401 to lowerthe mobile shuttle 330 to the floor. In some embodiments, stabilizerelements may project from or may be extended down from the base to fixthe position of the shuttle 300 on the floor. Alternately, the shuttle330 may remain moveable with respect to the floor. In some embodiments,an attachment mechanism 439 (schematically illustrated in FIG. 1B) maybe utilized to physically couple the mobile shuttle 330 to the imagingsystem 303. In the example shown in FIG. 1B, the attachment mechanism439 is located on the arms 413, 413 of the mobile shuttle 330 andcouples the arms 413, 413 to the arms 31, 33 of the gimbal 30 on theimaging system 303. However, one or more attachment mechanism 439 may belocated on any portion of the mobile shuttle 330 (e.g., the rails 405,407, connecting member 409, lateral connector portion 419 or supportmember 350) for coupling the shuttle 300 to a portion of the imagingsystem 303. In general, the attachment mechanism 439 may couple themobile shuttle 330 to a portion of the imaging system 303 that movesrelative to the patient 200 during an imaging scan, such as the gantry40 or the gimbal 30. This may enable the mobile shuttle 330 and therobotic arm 301 to move with the gantry 40 and gimbal 30 during animaging scan. The mobile shuttle 330 may also move with the entireimaging system 303 when the system 303 is transported.

The attachment mechanism 439 may be any suitable mechanism forphysically coupling the mobile shuttle 330 to a portion of the imagingsystem 303, such as a clamp, a latch, a strap that can be secured arounda portion of the imaging system 303 or a pair of mechanical stops that“capture” a portion of the imaging system 303 to enable bi-directionaltranslation of the mobile shuttle 330 in coordination with thetranslation of at least a portion of the imaging system 303 relative tothe patient 200.

In some embodiments, the mobile shuttle 330 may include hinged ortelescoping features that may enable a user to adjust the size of theshuttle 330 or the position of the support member 350 which may allowthe shuttle 330 to fit over different imaging devices, or to reduce thesize of the shuttle 350 for transport. In some embodiments, the mobileshuttle 330 may include a cable management system for routing cables toand from the at least one robotic arm 301 and/or the optical sensordevice 311. In embodiments, one or more electrical connections for powerand/or data for the at least one robotic arm 301 and/or the opticalsensor device 311 may be located on or within the mobile shuttle 330 andmay be routed to a single external connector or set of connectors on theshuttle 330.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of amobile shuttle 330 positioned adjacent to an imaging device 303. Thepatient support 60 in this embodiment is rotated in-line with the base20 and extends partially into the bore 307 of the gantry 40. The mobileshuttle 330 in this embodiment is shown without a robotic arm mounted tothe shuttle 330. In this embodiment, the support member 350, lateralconnector portion 419 and arms 413, 415 are shown as a unitarystructure. The wheels 413 in this embodiment include a set of casters403 a at a forward position on the base 401, and fixed wheels 403 b atthe rear of the base 401.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate an alternative embodiment of a mobile shuttle 330positioned adjacent to an imaging device 303. FIG. 4A is a topperspective view of the mobile shuttle 330 and the imaging device 303with the patient support 60 removed from the column 50. FIGS. 4B-4C areperspective views showing the patient support 60 attached to the column50 and rotated in-line with the bore 307 of the gantry 40. In thisembodiment, a robotic arm 301 is mounted to a first moveable carriage360 on a support member 350 (e.g., a curved rail) of the mobile shuttle330, and an optical sensor device 311 for a motion tracking system ismounted to a second moveable carriage 430 that is also located on thesupport member 350 (e.g., curved rail). In this embodiment, the firstand second carriages 360, 430 may slide independently over the samesupport member 350 to adjust their positions relative to the patient andto one another. In addition, as is most clearly visible in FIGS. 4A, 4Band 4C, the mounting surface 361 for the base end 304 of the robotic arm301 is angled upwards from the top of the first carriage 360. Therobotic arm 301 may thus extend in a lateral direction from the mountingsurface 361 over the top surfaces of the carriage 360, support member350 and gantry 40 and may then extend down over the front face of thegantry 40 as shown in FIGS. 4A-4D. The mounting surface 361 may be atany angle with respect to the top surface of the carriage 361, such asabout 90° as shown in FIGS. 4A-4D. As also shown in FIGS. 4A-4D, asupport arm 421 for the optical sensor device 311 is attached to thesecond carriage 430. The support arm 421 in this embodiment has a fixedlength. A first joint 423, which may be a rotating ball joint, enablesthe support arm 421 to be pivoted on the second carriage 430. The firstjoint 423 may have a locking mechanism to lock the joint 423 in place. Asecond joint 425 at the distal end of the arm 421, which may also be arotating ball joint, may enable adjustments to the orientation of theoptical sensor device 111. The second joint 425 may also have a lockingmechanism to lock the joint 423 in place. In this embodiment, the secondcarriage 430 may be manually moved to a desired position on the supportmember 350 and a clamping mechanism may enable the second carriage 430to be fixed in place. Alternately, the second carriage 430 may be drivenon the support member 350 by an active drive system.

Various embodiments of a mobile shuttle 330 may enable one or morerobotic arms 301 to be moved to any position along a support member 350,such as a curved rail. Since the base end 304 of the robotic arm 301 maybe mounted above the gantry 40, the robotic arm 301 can be easily movedout of the way of the surgical area, such as by raising the entire arm301 above the patient 200. When the patient table 60 is in a position asshown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the base end 304 of the robotic arm 301 can bemoved on the support member 350 to any position along length of patient200 so that the robotic arm 301 may approach the patient from the sideof the patient 200 or at an oblique angle relative to the patient axis.When the table 60 is rotated in-line with gantry 40 as shown in FIG. 2,the robotic arm 301 can approach patient along the patient axis or in adirection that is generally parallel to the patient axis. The roboticarm 301 may also be moved down towards the ends 351, 353 of the supportmember 350, which may enable the robotic arm 301 to approach the patient200 in a lateral direction. Various embodiments may enable a robotic arm301 to easily access a patient 200 that is located within or extendsthrough the bore 307 of the gantry 40 of the imaging system 303. Invarious configurations, the robotic arm 301 may extend down from abovethe patient 200, which may conserve valuable space in the surgicaltheater.

Various embodiments of a mobile shuttle 330 have been described formounting at least one robotic arm 301 in close proximity to an imagingdevice 303 having a generally O-shaped gantry 40, where the gantry 40 issupported above a base 20 by a generally U-shaped gimbal 30. However, itwill be understood that a mobile shuttle 330 may be used for mountingone or more robotic arms 301 proximate to other types of imagingsystems, such as an x-ray imaging system having an O-shaped imaginggantry mounted to a mobile support structure in a cantilevered fashionas well as other x-ray imaging systems having imaging gantries withdifferent geometries. In some embodiments, a mobile shuttle 330 may beused for mounting one or more robotic arms 301 proximate to an x-rayimaging system having a C-arm type gantry, or to imaging devicesutilizing different imaging modalities (e.g., MRI, PET, SPECT,ultrasound, etc.). In general, a mobile shuttle 330 according to variousembodiments may include a mobile base that may be moved adjacent to animaging device such that a support element supported by the mobile baseextends at least partially over a gantry of the imaging system, and abase end of at least one robotic arm is mounted to the support element.Further, in addition to imaging systems used diagnostic imaging of ahuman patient, a mobile shuttle 330 in various embodiments may also beconfigured for mounting at least one robotic arm 301 proximate to animaging system used for veterinary imaging or for industrial/commercialapplications, such as part inspection and assembly.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a mounting apparatus 501 for arobotic arm 301 located on a portion of an imaging system 303. Therobotic arm 301 may be similar or identical to the robotic arm 301described above. The imaging system 303 in this embodiment includes anelongated base 520 that may be fixed to a weight-bearing surface (e.g.,the floor), a support post 522 that extends vertically from the base 520and an imaging gantry 524 that is attached to the support post 522 onone side such that the gantry 524 is supported in a cantilevered manner.A patient table 560 is located adjacent to the imaging system 303, andincludes a bed portion 561 for supporting a patient during an imagingscan. In some embodiments, the bed portion 561 may pivot with respect toa linkage member 562, and the linkage member 562 may pivot with respectto a base portion 563 that is fixed to the floor to enable the bedportion 561 to be raised and lowered with respect to the floor and/or tochange the tilt angle of the bed portion 561 with respect to the floor.The gantry 524 may be translatable in a vertical direction along thelength of the support post 522 to raise and lower the gantry 524relative to the floor, and the gantry 524 may also be rotatable withrespect to the support post 522 to modify the tilt axis of the gantry524. In embodiments, the support post 522 and gantry 524 may betranslatable in a horizontal direction along the length of the base 520to perform an imaging scan (e.g., a helical x-ray CT scan) of a patientlying on the patient table 560.

The mounting apparatus 501 for the robotic arm 301 may include a baseportion 540 that is located on the base 520 of the imaging system 303. Asupport member 550 may extend from the base portion 540 over the topsurface of the patient table 560 and at least partially above a patientsupported thereon. The robotic arm 301 may be mounted to the supportmember 550. As shown in FIG. 5, a bracket member 551 may be located onthe support member 550, and the robotic arm 301 may be mounted to thebracket member 551. In some embodiments, the bracket member 551 may beslideable along the length of the support member 550 to adjust theposition of the robotic arm 301.

The support member 550 may include a curved portion 550 a (e.g., curvedrail) that extends over the patient table 560 and a straight portion 550b proximate to the base portion 540. In embodiments, the straightportion 550 b may extend and retract into a housing in the base portion540 so that the support member 550 may be raised and lowered in thedirection of arrow 504. The support member 550 may be raised and loweredin conjunction with the raising and lowering of the patient table 560and/or the gantry 524 of the imaging system 100. The support member 550may be raised and lowered manually and/or using a motorized system thatmay be located within the base portion 540. The support member 550 maybe fixed in place when it is raised or lowered to a desired height.

In addition to a curved support member 550, in some embodiments thesupport member 550 may comprise one or more straight segments (e.g.,rail segments), where at least a portion of the support member 550 mayextend over the top surface of the patient table 560 and at leastpartially above a patient supported thereon.

In embodiments, the support member 550 may also be rotatable withrespect to the base portion 540 in the direction of arrow 506, as shownin FIG. 5. For example, the straight portion 550 b of the support member550 may extend through a cover 552 that may rotate with respect to thebase portion 540 on a rotary bearing 553. This may enable the supportmember 550 to be rotated out of the way of the patient table 560 andpatient when the robotic arm 301 is not needed.

In embodiments, the base portion 540 may be weighted to providestability to the robotic arm 301 attached to the support member 550. Thebase portion 540 may enclose electronic circuitry and/or processor(s)used to control the operation of the robotic arm 301. One or moreconnections for power and/or data may extend over or through the supportmember 550 and may connect the robotic arm 301 to a control system(e.g., computing device) and/or a power supply that may be located inthe base portion 540. The base portion 540 may be permanently fixed tothe base 520 of the imaging system 100 or may be removably mounted tothe base 520. For example, the mounting apparatus 501 may be moved usinga mobile cart or shuttle (not illustrated) and may be lifted from themobile cart/shuttle and placed onto the base 520 of the imaging system303. In embodiments, the base portion 540 may be clamped or otherwisefixed in place on the base 520.

In some embodiments, the mounting apparatus 501 may be moveable alongthe length of the base 520. For example, the base portion 540 of themounting apparatus 501 may include one or more bearing elements (e.g.,rollers or sliders) that engage with a bearing surface on the base 520of the imaging system 303 and may enable the mounting apparatus totranslate along the length of the base 520 in the direction of arrow508. A drive mechanism may be mounted inside or beneath the base portion540 to drive the translation of the mounting apparatus 501 along thebase 520. In some embodiments, the mounting apparatus 501 may notinclude a drive system for translating the mounting apparatus 501. Thebase portion 540 of the mounting apparatus 501 may be mechanicallycoupled to the support post 522 of the imaging system 303, such as viaone or more rigid spacers (not illustrated) that may extend along thelength of the base 520. The spacer(s) may enable the separation distancebetween the mounting apparatus 501 and the support post 522 to beadjusted. The translation of the support post 522 along the base 520 maydrive the translation of the mounting apparatus 501 to which it isattached.

A system such as shown in FIG. 5 may be utilized for performing avariety of different diagnostic and treatment methods. In someembodiments, the system may be used for robot-assisted interventionalradiology procedures. For example, the end effector of the robotic arm301 may include or may hold an invasive surgical tool, such as a biopsyneedle, that may be inserted into the body of a patient on the patienttable 560. The imaging system 303 may obtain images of the patient(e.g., CT scans, such as CT fluoroscopic scans) that may be used toguide the insertion of and confirm the position of an invasive tool orinstrument. As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments the robotic arm 301may be extended to a position that is at least partially within the bore307 of the imaging gantry 524.

In embodiments, a system as shown in FIG. 5 may be used for animage-guided surgical procedure, and may include a sensing device (e.g.,a camera array) for tracking the relative positions and orientations ofvarious objects within the surgical space. A motion tracking device(e.g., camera array) may be mounted to the mounting apparatus 501, suchas on the support member 550 (e.g., curved rail), similar to theembodiments of FIGS. 1A-1C, 3 and 4A-4D described above. Alternately,the motion tracking device may be mounted to the imaging system 303, thepatient table 360 or to a separate cart.

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate a further embodiment of a mounting apparatus 601for a robotic arm 301 used for robotically assisted surgery. Themounting apparatus 601 may be a mobile apparatus (i.e., a cart orshuttle) that may be used to position the arm 301 for performing asurgical procedure as well as for transport and/or storage of therobotic arm 301. The mounting apparatus 601 in this embodiment includesa base portion 602 having a plurality of wheels 603, a pair of supportarms 605 a, 605 b extending upwards from the base portion 602, and asupport member 607 extending between the support arms 605 a, 605 b. Atleast one robotic arm 301 may be attached to the support member 607. Thesupport member 607 may be a curved rail to which the robotic arm 301 isattached. The mounting apparatus 601 may be similar to a mobile shuttle330 such as described above with reference to FIGS. 1A-4D, although thesupport member 607 in this embodiment does not extend over an outersurface of a gantry of an imaging system. The mounting apparatus 601 mayhave a smaller profile (e.g., height and/or width dimension) than themobile shuttle 330 as shown in FIGS. 1A-4D.

The mounting apparatus 601 may be positioned adjacent to a patient table660. The patient table 660 may be an operating table, such as a Jacksontable as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The mounting apparatus 601 and therobotic arm 301 may be utilized with or without an imaging devicelocated in the operating theater. FIG. 6A illustrates the mountingapparatus 601 and robotic arm 301 used to perform robotically-assistedimage guided surgery without an intra-operative imaging system. FIG. 6Billustrates the mounting apparatus 601 and robotic arm 301 used toperform robotically-assisted image guided surgery with an imaging system303 (e.g., an O-arm® system, a C-arm system, etc.) located in theoperating theater. The imaging system 303 may approach the patient fromthe side of the patient table 660 to obtain images of the patient. Themounting apparatus 601 may be positioned adjacent to an end of thepatient table 660 such that the robotic arm 301 may extend from themounting apparatus 601 along the length of the patient table 660 to thesurgical area.

The base portion 602 may include a pair of spaced-apart foot sections609, 610 extending parallel to one another. Wheels 603 (e.g., casters)may be located at the front and rear of each foot section 609, 610 toenable transport of the mounting apparatus 601. One or more stabilizers611 may be extended from the bottom of each foot section 609, 610 tocontact the floor and maintain the mounting apparatus 601 in a fixedlocation. The stabilizers 612 may be extended from and retracted intothe respective foot sections 609, 610 manually (e.g., via a lever orfoot pedal, for example). In some embodiments, a motorized systemlocated in the foot sections 609, 610 may drive the extension andretraction of the stabilizers. Alternately or in addition, the wheels603 may be retracted into the foot sections 609, 610 to lower themounting apparatus 601 to the floor at a desired location.

The support arms 605 a, 605 b may extend from the rear of the baseportion 602 and may extend upwards at an angle towards the front of themounting apparatus 601. An open region 613 may be defined between thefoot sections 609, 610, the support arms 605 a, 605 b and the supportmember 607. In embodiments, the foot sections 609, 610 and support arms605 a, 605 b on either side of the mounting apparatus 601 may not beconnected to one another except at the top of the mounting apparatus 601(e.g., via the support member 607). This may enable the mountingapparatus 601 to be positioned over a patient table 660 such that themounting apparatus 601 may at least partially straddle the patient table660, such as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The open region 613 may bedesigned to accommodate a wide variety of different types of patienttables in a “straddle” configuration. The open region 613 may alsoaccommodate other devices within the operating theater, such as ananesthesia machine and/or a Mayo stand. In embodiments, the open region613 may have a width of at least about 32 inches and a height of atleast about 50 inches.

The foot sections 609, 610 and/or the support arms 605 a, 605 b may beweighted to provide stability to the robotic arm 301 attached to thesupport member 607. One or more housings may be formed in footsection(s) 609, 610 and/or support arm(s) 605 a, 605 b for enclosingelectronic circuitry and/or processor(s) used to control the operationof the robotic arm 301 and/or for performing image guidedsurgery/surgical navigation. One or more connections for power and/ordata may extend over or through the support member 607 and along one orboth support arms 605 a, 605 b and may connect the robotic arm 301 to acontrol system 614 (e.g., computing device) and/or a power supplylocated in the mounting apparatus 601.

As shown in FIGS. 6A-6B, a bracket member 651 may be located on thesupport member 607, and the robotic arm 301 may be mounted to thebracket member 651. In some embodiments, the bracket member 651 may beslideable along the length of the support member 607 to adjust theposition of the robotic arm 301.

A support arm 621 for an optical sensor device 311 (e.g., multi-cameraarray) of a motion tracking system 305 may be located on the mountingapparatus 601. The support arm 621 may be mounted to the support member607, and may be attached to the bracket member 651 as shown in FIGS.6A-6B. In this embodiment, the support arm 621 incudes a plurality(e.g., two) rigid segments 622 connected by joint(s) 623 (e.g., balljoints). The user may adjust the position and orientation of the opticalsensor device 111 by articulating the rigid segments 622 on the joints623. The support arm 621 may include features that hold the opticalsensor device 311 in a desired pose during a surgical procedure. Thesupport arm 621 may also be folded into compact configuration for easeof transport of the mounting apparatus 601.

FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of a mounting apparatus 701 fora robotic arm 301 used for robotically assisted surgery. The mountingapparatus 701 may be a mobile apparatus that may be used to position thearm 301 for performing a surgical procedure as well as for transportand/or storage of the robotic arm 301. The mounting apparatus 701 mayinclude a base 703 and a support arm 705 extending from the base 703,where the robotic arm 301 may be secured to the support arm 705. FIG. 7illustrates the mounting apparatus 701 located at an end of a patienttable 707 such that the robotic arm 301 may extend from the mountingapparatus 701 to a patient located on the patient table 707. An opticalsensor device (e.g., multi-camera array) of a motion tracking system mayalso be attached to the mounting apparatus 701, as described above. Apower supply and other electrical components (e.g., computer(s)) may behoused within the base 703 of the mounting apparatus 701. The mountingapparatus 701 may be a wheeled cart that includes wheels on the base 703to enable the mounting apparatus 701 to be moved across the floor.Alternately or in addition, a separate shuttle device (not illustrated)may be utilized to transport the mounting apparatus 701 to a desiredlocation and leave it in a fixed position (e.g., by lowering it to thefloor). The shuttle device may then be moved away from the mountingapparatus 701. After use, the shuttle device may be used to lift themounting apparatus 701 from the floor for transport to another location.

The mounting apparatus 701 in the embodiment of FIG. 7 may be relativelysmall and lightweight in comparison to conventional carts for surgicalrobotic arms. This may enable easier transportation of the mountingapparatus 701 and robotic arm 301 and may reduce the space in theoperating room occupied by the surgical robot and its support structure.In embodiments, the mounting apparatus 701 may also include an anchoringapparatus 709 that may be deployed for the purposes of providing greaterstability to the mounting apparatus 701 and robotic arm 301. Theanchoring apparatus 709 may comprise one or more plate-shaped elementsthat may be pivoted downward from the base 703 to lie flat against thefloor. Weight may be provided on the top surface of the anchoringapparatus 709 to provide additional ballast and improve the stability ofthe mounting apparatus 701 and robotic arm 301. In one embodiment, theweight may be provided by moving a mobile imaging device 303 or anotherheavy item of equipment in the operating theater over the anchoringapparatus 709.

Further embodiments include a mobile mounting apparatus for a surgicalrobotic arm that includes a docking system for mating with pre-installedfeature(s) in the floor of the operating room. FIG. 8 illustrates afirst embodiment of a mounting apparatus 801 that is a mobile carthaving a base 803 with wheels 804 and a support arm 805 extending fromthe base 803 to which a robotic arm 301 is attached. The support arm 805may be hinged so that the robotic arm 301 may be pivoted upwards to araised position above a patient table 860, as shown in FIG. 8. Thesupport arm 805 and robotic arm 301 may be pivoted downwards towards thebase 803 to improve stability of the cart during transport. An opticalsensor device (e.g., multi-camera array) of a motion tracking system mayalso be attached to the mounting apparatus 801, as described above. Apower supply and other electrical components (e.g., computer(s)) may behoused within the base 803 of the mounting apparatus 801.

The docking system 807 in this embodiment includes a first dockingelement 809 that is extended from the bottom surface of the mountingapparatus 801 and a second docking element 811 that is located on and/orwithin the floor. The second docking element 811 may be a socket that ispre-installed in the floor of the operating theater. The second dockingelement 811 may be pre-installed in a select location of an operatingroom, such as adjacent to a fixed surgical table 860 or beneath overheadsurgical lighting or ventilation system(s). A plurality of seconddocking elements 811 may be pre-installed in selected locations aroundthe operating room. The first docking element 809 may be a threadedconnector that may be extended from the bottom of the base 803 (e.g. viaa motor or a foot pedal or other mechanical means) and into the seconddocking element 811. The second docking element 811 may havecorresponding threads which engage with the threads of the first dockingelement 809 to mechanically couple the first and second docking elements809, 811. In embodiments, once the docking system 807 is engaged, thefirst docking element 809 may be retracted back towards the base 803 ofthe mounting apparatus 801 to take up any play between the first andsecond docking elements 809, 811 and provide increased stability to themounting apparatus 801. In some embodiments, the wheels 804 of themounting apparatus 801 may retract into the base 804 in coordinationwith the extension of the first docking element 809 so that the mountingapparatus 801 may be lowered to the floor as the docking system 807 isengaged.

In embodiments, the second docking element 811 may be countersunk tofacilitate engagement with the first docking element 809. The dockingsystem 807 may also include additional features, such as mechanical,optical and/or electromagnetic features to ensure that the base 803 ofthe mounting apparatus 801 is properly aligned over the second dockingelement 811 before the first docking element 809 is extended. In someembodiments, the docking system 807 may include connections for powerand/or data to and/or from the mounting apparatus 801.

The docking system 807 may be disengaged by actuating a releasemechanism (e.g., a button, foot pedal, etc.) that causes the firstdocking element 809 and the second docking element 811 to disconnectfrom one another so as to enable the mounting apparatus 801 to betransported and/or re-positioned. In preferred embodiments, when thedocking system 807 is disengaged, the second docking element 811 may besubstantially flush with the floor surface and does not interfere withmedical personnel or other equipment within the operating room.

Although the embodiment of FIG. 8 illustrates a docking mechanism 807having a connector that extends from the mounting apparatus 801 toengage with a socket in the floor, it will be understood that thedocking mechanism 807 may include a connector that extends from thefloor to engage with the mounting apparatus 801.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a mobile mountingapparatus for a surgical robotic arm that docks with pre-installedfeature(s) in the operating room floor. In this embodiment, the mountingapparatus 901 may be moved using a separate shuttle device (notillustrated). The mounting apparatus 901 may be lowered onto or slidinto a floor mount 902 that may be pre-installed in the floor of theoperating room. The mounting apparatus 901 and/or floor mount 902 mayhave mating features to facilitate alignment and a locking mechanismthat engages to lock the mounting apparatus 901 into position on thefloor.

The mounting apparatus 901 in this embodiment includes a base 903 and aboom arm 905 that is able to swivel with respect to the base 903, asshown in FIG. 9. A robotic arm 301 and an optical sensor device 311 of amotion tracking system may be attached to the boom arm 905. In someembodiments, the height of the boom arm 905 with respect to the base 903may be adjustable.

FIG. 10 illustrates a further embodiment of a mounting apparatus 1001for a robotic arm that includes a base 1003 and a support arm 1005extending from the base 803 to which a robotic arm 301 is attached. Anoptical sensor device (e.g., multi-camera array) of a motion trackingsystem may also be attached to the mounting apparatus 1001, as describedabove. A power supply and other electrical components (e.g.,computer(s)) may be housed within the base 1003 of the mountingapparatus 1001.

The mounting apparatus 1001 of FIG. 10 may be similar to the mountingapparatus 801 described above with reference to FIG. 8. However, themounting apparatus 1001 of FIG. 10 is not a wheeled cart and may bemoved using a separate shuttle device (not illustrated). In addition,the mounting apparatus 1001 may be positioned adjacent to an end of apatient table. The mounting apparatus 1001 of FIG. 10 may include adocking mechanism 1007 that includes a first docking element 1009 (e.g.,a threaded connector) that engages with a second docking element 1011(e.g., socket) that is located on and/or within the floor to secure themounting apparatus 1001 to the floor.

In some embodiments, multiple mounting apparatuses 801, 901, 1001 asdescribed above may be docked with pre-installed docking featureslocated at various locations in the operating room floor. Various itemsused during surgery, such as robotic arm(s), surgical instrument(s),instrument tray(s), camera(s), light source(s), monitor screen(s), etc.,may be mounted to the mounting apparatuses 801, 901, 1001. Inembodiments, multiple mounting apparatuses 801, 901, 1001 may be bridgedby one or more spanning members (e.g., cross-bar(s), truss(es), etc.)that may extend over or adjacent to the surgical area, and one or moreitems, such as robotic arm(s), surgical instrument(s), instrumenttray(s), camera(s), lighting, monitor screen(s), etc., may be suspendedfrom a spanning member.

Further embodiments include a table mount for a surgical robotic arm. Atable mount approach may minimize the size and footprint of the mountingapparatus used to mount a surgical robotic arm while enabling therobotic arm to be located in an advantageous position for performingrobotically-assisted surgery. For example, a robotic arm mounted to thesurgical table may have a closer physical connection and relationship tothe patient, so that the robotic arm may better follow or accommodatemotion of the patient. A table mount according to various embodimentsmay enable the robotic arm to be mounted along the edge of the patienttable (i.e., along the side of the patient), at an end of the table(i.e., at the head or foot of the patient), and/or above the patient, asdescribed in further detail below. In some embodiments, a table mountmay be movable with respect to the patient table (e.g., slidable alongthe length of the patient table) to adjust the position of the roboticarm on the table.

FIGS. 11A-11E illustrate a first embodiment of a table mount 1101 formounting at least one robotic arm 301 to a surgical table 1160. In thisembodiment, the table mount 1101 may be used to mount a robotic arm 301to a side 1102 of the table 1160 and/or to an end 1104 of the table1160. It will be understood that in some embodiments, a table mount 1101may be configured to mount a robotic arm 301 only to the side 1102 or tothe end 1104 of the table 1160.

As shown in FIG. 11A, the table mount 1101 may include a generally flatplate member 1103 that may be placed on a surgical tabletop. One or moreraised platforms 1105 a, 1105 b may extend from a periphery of the platemember 1103. The raised platforms 1105 a, 1105 b may be may becantilevered from the side 1102 or end 1104 of the surgical table 1160.The raised platforms 1105 a, 1105 b may include a mounting surface 1107for attaching a robotic arm 301, as shown in FIGS. 11B-11E. The mountingsurface 1107 may optionally be angled toward the surface of the patienttable 1160, as shown in FIGS. 11B-11E. In embodiments, the plate member1103 may be placed across the width of the surgical tabletop 1108, andone or more tabletop pads 1110 may be placed over the top surface of theplate member 1103. The weight of the patient on the tabletop pad 1110and plate member 1103 may provide additional ballast to improve thestability of the table mount 1101 and robotic arm 301.

The raised platforms 1105 a, 1105 b may be integrally formed with orpermanently mounted to the plate member 1103, or alternately, the raisedplatforms 1105 a, 1105 b may be removable from the plate member 1103.For example, as shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C, raised platform 1105 b maybe removed from the table mount 1101 and a robotic arm 301 may bemounted to the side 1102 of the table 1160 on raised platform 1105 a. InFIGS. 11D and 11E, raised platform 1105 a may be removed from the tablemount 1101 and a robotic arm 301 may be mounted to the end 1104 of thetable 1160 on raised platform 1105 b.

The table mount 1101 may be attached to a surgical table 1160 using aclamping mechanism that may clamp the table mount 1101 across the widthof the surgical table 1160. In various embodiments, the table mount 1101may be designed for use with different types of surgical tables that mayvary in terms of structural features and/or dimensions of the surgicaltable. Thus, a universal or semi-universal design for a table mount 1101may be utilized. As shown in FIG. 11C, the plate member 1103 may have afirst projection 1111 that extends from the bottom surface of the platemember 1103 and abuts against a structural element of the surgical table1160 (e.g., a side surface of the table 1160, a side rail, etc.).Opposite the first projection 1111, the plate member 1103 may include areciprocating portion 1113 that may include alignment features (e.g.,rods 1115) that slide within openings 1117 in the plate member 1103. Thereciprocating portion 1113 may be moved towards or away from the rest ofthe plate member 1103 to adjust the width of the plate member 1103. Thereciprocating portion 1113 may have a second projection 1119 (see FIG.11C) that extends from the bottom surface of the reciprocating portion1113 and may abut against a structural element (e.g., the side surfaceof the table, a side rail, etc.) on the opposite side of the table 1160.The plate member 1103 may be fastened against opposite sides of thetable 1160 by turning a knob 1121 (see FIG. 11A) so that a threadedconnector extending through the reciprocating portion 1113 becomesengaged within a threaded opening 1119 in the plate member 1103.

In addition to mounting a robotic arm 301 as shown in FIGS. 11B-11E, atable mount 1101 as described above may be used to mount other items toa surgical table, such as surgical tools, instrument trays, cameras,monitors/displays, light sources, etc.

FIGS. 12A-12E illustrate a second embodiment of a table mount 1201 formounting at least one robotic arm 301 to a surgical table 1160. In thisembodiment, the table mount 1201 may include a bridge section 1202 thatextends over the top surface of the surgical table 1160. At least onerobotic arm 301 may be mounted to the bridge section 1202.

As shown in FIG. 12A, the table mount 1201 may include a generally flatplate member 1203 that may be placed on a surgical tabletop 1108. As inthe embodiment of FIGS. 11A-11E, the plate member 1203 may be placedacross the width of the surgical tabletop 1108, and one or more tabletoppads 1110 may be placed over the top surface of the plate member 1103.The weight of the patient on the tabletop pad 1110 and plate member 1203may provide additional ballast to improve the stability of the tablemount 1201 and robotic arm 301.

The table mount 1201 may include a clamping mechanism that fastens thetable mount 1201 across the width of the surgical table 1160. Areciprocating portion 1213 of the plate member 1203 may enable the tablemount to be adjusted to accommodate different table widths. As shown inFIG. 12E, a first projection 1211 may extend from the bottom surface ofthe plate member 1203 and abut against a structural element of thesurgical table 1160. A second projection 1219 may extend from the bottomsurface of the reciprocating portion 1213 of the plate member 1203 andabut against a structural element on the opposite side of the table1160. The table mount 1201 may be clamped to the table 1160 by turning aknob 1221 (see FIG. 12A) or similar mechanism that tightens the firstand second projections 1211, 1219 against opposite sides of the table1160.

The bridge section 1202 in this embodiment include a set of fourvertical support members 1204 extending from the plate member 1203 and amounting surface 1206 supported above the table 1160 by the supportmembers 1204. In this embodiment, the mounting surface 1206 has an archshape, although it will be understood that the mounting surface may beflat. Two of the support members 1204 may extend through openings 1208in the periphery of the plate member 1203. A plurality of fasteners 1210(e.g., nuts) may be used to secure the support members 1204 within theopenings 1208. The other two support members 1204 may extend throughslots 1212 in the reciprocating portion 1213 of the plate member 1203. Aplurality of fasteners 1210 (e.g., nuts) may be used to secure thesupport members 1204 within the slots 1212. The height of the mountingsurface 1206 above the top surface of the table 1160 may be adjusted byvarying the length of the support members 1204 extending above the platemember 1203.

FIGS. 12B-12E illustrate the table mount 1201 supporting a robotic arm301 above the surgical table 1160. A robotic arm 301 may be mounted atvarious positions on the mounting surface 1206. In embodiments, the baseend of the robotic arm 301 may be mounted to a moveable carriage (e.g.,similar to carriage 360 shown in FIGS. 1A-1D), and the carriage with therobotic arm 301 may be slideable over the bridge section 1202 toreposition the robotic arm 301. A table mount 1201 as illustrated anddescribed above may be used to mount other items to a surgical table,such as surgical tools, instrument trays, cameras, monitors/displays,light sources, etc.

In embodiments, multiple table mounts 1101, 1201 as shown and describedabove may be attached to a surgical table. A plurality of table mounts1101, 1201 may be bridged by one or more connecting members (e.g.,cross-bar(s), truss(es), etc.) that may extend over or adjacent to thesurgical table, and one or more items, such as robotic arm(s), surgicalinstrument(s), instrument tray(s), camera(s), lighting, monitorscreen(s), etc., may be mounted to a connecting member.

FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of a table mount for a surgicalrobotic arm. In this embodiment, the robotic arm 301 is mounted to acolumn 50 that supports the surgical table 60 above the floor. Themounting apparatus 1301 in this embodiment includes a support element1303 that is fixed to the column 50 beneath the table 60 and a supportarm 1305 that extends up from the support element 1303 above the surfaceof the table 60. The robotic arm 301 may be mounted to the support arm1305. In embodiments, the mounting apparatus 1301 may be adjustable suchthat the robotic arm 301 may be mounted adjacent to either side oroptionally to at least one end of the table 60. The mounting apparatus1301 may also be used to mount an optical sensor device for a motiontracking system.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of a ceiling mount 1400 for a surgicalrobotic arm 301. The ceiling mount 1400 includes a support member 1401that extends vertically downwards from the ceiling. The base end 304 ofthe robotic arm 301 may be mounted to an attachment point 1402 on thesupport member 1401 such that the robotic arm 301 may extend to reach apatient on a surgical table 60. In some embodiments, the height of theattachment point 1402 for the robotic arm 301 may be adjustable, such asby telescoping the support member 1401 towards or away from the ceiling.The attachment point 1402 may also be rotatable with respect to thesupport member 1401. In some embodiments, the entire support member 1401may be moveable along tracks on or within the ceiling. A support arm1407 for an optical sensor device 311 of a motion tracking system may bealso attached to the support member 1401 as shown in FIG. 14.

The foregoing method descriptions are provided merely as illustrativeexamples and are not intended to require or imply that the steps of thevarious embodiments must be performed in the order presented. As will beappreciated by one of skill in the art the order of steps in theforegoing embodiments may be performed in any order. Words such as“thereafter,” “then,” “next,” etc. are not necessarily intended to limitthe order of the steps; these words may be used to guide the readerthrough the description of the methods. Further, any reference to claimelements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an” or“the” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.

The preceding description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enableany person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention.Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may beapplied to other aspects without departing from the scope of theinvention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited tothe aspects shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scopeconsistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A surgical system comprising: an imaging devicehaving a gantry and a base; a robotic arm having a base end; and amobile shuttle for mounting the robotic arm proximate to the imagingdevice, the mobile shuttle comprising: a mobile base configured to movethe shuttle to a position adjacent to the imaging device; and a supportmember for mounting the robotic arm, the support member supported by themobile base and extending at least partially over the gantry of theimaging device when the shuttle is moved to the position adjacent to theimaging device; wherein when the base end of the robotic arm is mountedto a carriage, the carriage is moveable to various positions along alength of the support member.
 2. The surgical system of claim 1, whereinthe carriage includes a mounting surface for mounting the base end ofthe robotic arm.
 3. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the supportmember comprises a curved rail.
 4. The surgical system of claim 1,wherein the mobile shuttle comprises at least one support arm extendingfrom the mobile base, the support member supported by the at least onesupport arm.
 5. The surgical system of claim 4, wherein the mobileshuttle comprises at least two support arms extending from oppositesides of the base, wherein a first arm is connected to a first side ofthe support member and a second arm is connected to a second side of thesupport member.
 6. The surgical system of claim 5, wherein the first andsecond arms are offset from the support member, the first arm isconnected to the first side of the support member by a lateralconnecting portion, and the second arm is connected to a second side ofthe support member by a lateral connecting portion.
 7. The surgicalsystem of claim 1, wherein the mobile base further includes a pair ofrails that are spaced apart from one another such that the rails aremoveable adjacent to first and second sides of the base of the imagingdevice.
 8. The surgical system of claim 7, wherein the mobile basefurther includes a plurality of wheels attached to the mobile base,wherein at least a portion of the wheels are attached to the pair ofrails.
 9. The surgical system of claim 8, wherein the mobile basefurther includes a connecting member extending between the pair of railsproximate to a first end of the mobile base.
 10. The surgical system ofclaim 9, wherein the connecting member comprises a raised bridge portionthat is moveable over a top surface of the base of the imaging device.11. The surgical system of claim 5 further comprising an attachmentmechanism on the mobile shuttle between the imaging device and themobile shuttle.
 12. The surgical system of claim 11, wherein theattachment mechanism on the mobile shuttle is located on the supportarms.
 13. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the imaging device isan x-ray imaging device.
 14. A mobile mounting apparatus for a roboticarm, comprising: a mobile base portion; a pair of support arms extendingupwards from the mobile base portion; and a support member for mountingat least one robotic arm, the support member extending between thesupport arms, wherein an open region is defined between the mobile baseportion, the pair of support arms, and the support member; and acarriage that is moveable along the support member for mounting therobotic arm; wherein the open region is sized and shaped to accommodateat least a portion of an imaging device within the open region.
 15. Themobile mounting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mobile base portioncomprises a pair of base rails each having wheels for transporting themounting apparatus.
 16. The mobile mounting apparatus of claim 15,wherein the mobile base portion further includes a connecting memberextending between the pair of base rails.
 17. The mobile mountingapparatus of claim 16, wherein the connecting member comprises a raisedbridge portion having a curved profile.
 18. The mobile mountingapparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the support arms extends upwardsfrom a respective one of the pair of base rails.
 19. The mobile mountingapparatus of claim 14, wherein the support member comprises a curvedrail.